Mark Metcalf

Last updated
Mark Metcalf
Mark Metcalf.jpg
Metcalf in 2005
Born (1946-03-11) March 11, 1946 (age 78)
Findlay, Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater University of Michigan
Years active1971–present
SpouseElizabeth Wick (divorced)
Children1

Mark Metcalf (born March 11, 1946) [1] [2] is an American television and film actor often playing the role of an antagonistic and aggrieved authority figure. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

He is best known for his role as sadistic ROTC officer Douglas C. Neidermeyer in the 1978 American comedy film Animal House , [8] [9] [10] [11] a character he later emulated in the 1984 music videos for the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" by the heavy metal band Twisted Sister. [6] [9] [11] [12]

He is also known for playing the role of The Maestro on two episodes of the sitcom Seinfeld as well as for his recurring role as The Master on the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series Angel . [6] [8] [13] [14]

Early life

Metcalf was born in Findlay, Ohio. [11] [14] His father was a civil engineer. [9] [11] Metcalf was raised in Webster Groves, [11] a suburb of St. Louis. In 1959, he moved with his family to New Jersey [14] where he attended Westfield High School, graduating in 1964. [15]

Metcalf enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Michigan. [11] [14] It was at university that he performed in his first stage play, which was a production of Shakespeare's Henry VI . [9] [14] His first professional acting job was with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 1971. [11] In the early 1970s, he moved to New York City performing in both classical and modern theater, eventually moving westward to work in film. [11] [14]

Career

Metcalf's first major Hollywood film role was that of ROTC cadet officer Douglas Neidermeyer in the 1978 comedy Animal House. [3] In 1984, Metcalf played characters similar to Neidermeyer in the Twisted Sister music videos for the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It", where he played an authoritarian father, and "I Wanna Rock", where he played an authoritarian high school teacher. [12] [13]

In the 1980s and 1990s, Metcalf landed guest roles on multiple television shows including Miami Vice , Walker, Texas Ranger and Party of Five . [11] [16] He also played recurring roles on shows such as Hill Street Blues , Teen Angel , Star Trek: Voyager , Ally McBeal and JAG . [11] [17] In 1993 he moved to Hollywood. [3]

One of Metcalf's more memorable television characters was his role in an episode during the seventh season of Seinfeld titled "The Maestro". [8] [13] [14] In the episode he played a self-absorbed conductor who was dating character Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and who insisted on being referred to as "Maestro". [5] [6] [9] Metcalf reprised the role in an episode later that same season titled "The Doll". [6] [18]

From 1997 to 2002, Metcalf played the vampire known as The Master on several episodes of the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series Angel . [6] [8] [18]

In 2000, Metcalf left Los Angeles and moved to Bayside, Wisconsin with his then wife, Elizabeth "Libby" Wick and their son, Julius. [11] [19] Metcalf had moved to Wisconsin to start a restaurant with his wife and with no intent on continuing with acting, due to raising a child with special needs. [9] [11] However, Metcalf was approached by the director of First Stage Children's Theater in Milwaukee to act in one of their plays and Metcalf went on to act in several of their productions. [8] [9] [11]

In conjunction with the Milwaukee Film Festival, Metcalf produced a short film each year based on a screenplay written by a high school student enrolled in the Student Screenwriting Competition, a program developed by Metcalf to teach the craft of screenwriting to young people. [8] Metcalf also contributed articles about film as a correspondent for the online magazine OnMilwaukee. [8]

In 2009, Metcalf played the role of Mayor Johnson on an episode of the third season of Mad Men titled "Souvenir". [11] [13]

After moving to Missoula, Montana in 2013, Metcalf once again became involved in local theatre, playing the role of Scrooge in a production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol presented by the University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance. [5] [9]

In 2019, Metcalf played the role of Sheriff Roy in Tate Bunker's film The Field alongside Barry Bostwick and Veronica Cartwright. [20] Metcalf was the subject of Vera Brunner-Sung's documentary short Character that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020. [21] Metcalf met Brunner-Sung through a mutual friend after moving to Columbus, Ohio. [21]

Personal life

Metcalf has one son with Elizabeth "Libby" Wick. The couple moved from Los Angeles, California to Bayside, Wisconsin in 2000. [22] They owned and operated a restaurant in nearby Mequon, Wisconsin called Libby Montana. [9] [11] [19] Metcalf filed for divorce in 2003 and since 2006 Wick has been the sole owner of the restaurant. [10] [19] However, in late 2024, the restaurant closed permanently.

In 2013, Metcalf moved to Missoula, Montana, to be closer to Julius, who was a student at the University of Montana. [5] [9]

Metcalf is a longtime advocate for Alzheimer’s research and awareness raising. [23] [24]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Julia Pratt
1978 Animal House Doug Neidermeyer
1979 Chilly Scenes of Winter Ox
1980 Where the Buffalo Roam Dooley
1983 The Final Terror Mike
1984 Almost You Andrews
1985 The Heavenly Kid Joe Barnes
1986 One Crazy Summer Aguilla Beckersted
1988 Mr. North Mr. Skeel
1989The OasisEric
1991 Oscar Milhous
1995 A Reason to Believe Dean Kirby
1995RageLt. Gov. Dalquist
1996 The Stupids Colonel Neidermeyer
1997 Hijacking Hollywood Michael Lawrence
1997 Loose Women Director Marsh
1999 Drive Me Crazy Mr. Rope
2000The Million Dollar KidOfficer Bob
2002Britney, Baby, One More TimeBarfly
2002 Sorority Boys John Kloss
2002 Lone Hero Marshall Harris
2006The Legend TripCharles Knotting
2007The SleeperRichmond
2009 Modus Operandi Copper Gore
2011 Fort McCoy Mr. Gerkey
2011We Will Rock YouMajor Emile Hickory
2012 Playback Chris Safford
2012Little RedLou
2012The Smart OnesProfessor Faron
2013 Billy Club The Umpire
2014 Hamlet A.D.D. Speedy McSpitty
2017Manlife Alfred Lawson Voice
2018 A Futile and Stupid Gesture Second Publisher
2019The FieldSheriff Roy

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 Karen Jess WalkerEpisode: "I Gave at the Office"
1978 Julie Farr, M.D. BuddyEpisode: "Careers"
1979 Barnaby Jones Ted Parker2 episodes
1981 Breaking Away The RacerEpisode: "La Strada"
1981 Hill Street Blues Officer Harris4 episodes
1982 Teachers Only DavidEpisode: "Diana, Substitute Mother"
1983For Love and HonorMajor CamdenEpisode: "Rite of Passage"
1983 Hotel ChuckEpisode: "Confrontations"
1986 One Life to Live Stick3 episodes
1988 Miami Vice Agent BrodyEpisode: "Baseballs of Death"
1989 A Man Called Hawk Mr. KirkpatrickEpisode: "The Divided Child"
1991 L.A. Law Greg MorrisonEpisode: "As God Is My Co-Defendant"
1991 Dream On The CreatureEpisode: "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told"
1991Guilty Until Proven InnocentRon D'AngeloTelevision film
1991 A Woman Named Jackie George Smathers 2 episodes
1992 Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster Dennis KelsoTelevision film
1993 Renegade RussellEpisode: "The Champ"
1994 Silk Stalkings Scott FinnEpisode: "The Last Campaign"
1994 Walker, Texas Ranger Norval HayesEpisode: "Deadly Vision"
1994 Dead at 21 Sheriff SullivanEpisode: "Love Minus Zero"
1994 Touched by an Angel Nick MorrowEpisode: "The Southbound Bus"
1995 Melrose Place Det. Bob Wilkens2 episodes
1995, 1996 Seinfeld Bob Cobb
1996 Party of Five Mr. ReevesEpisode: "Unfair Advantage"
1997–1998 Teen Angel Roderick Nitzke7 episodes
1997, 1998 Ally McBeal Attorney Walden2 episodes
1997–2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Master 8 episodes
1998 Star Trek: Voyager Hirogen Medic2 episodes
1999 JAG Captain Pike3 episodes
2000 Angel The MasterEpisode: "Darla"
2001 Warden of Red Rock Carl McValeTelevision film
2006 Video on Trial Abusive FatherEpisode #2.6
2009 Mad Men Mayor JohnsonEpisode: "Souvenir"

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References

  1. ↑ "Terrence Howard, Lisa Loeb: Today's celebrity birthdays list (March 11, 2017)". cleveland.com. Advance Ohio. March 11, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Celebrity birthdays, March 5–11". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, Texas. March 2, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mr. Mean Guy". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Variety. September 18, 1995. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ Spears, Steve (June 11, 2010). "Bullies we love to watch". St. Petersburg Times. Tampa Bay Florida. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2017. In 1978's Animal House, Mark Metcalf played one of the most despicable bullies in film history, Doug Neidermeyer.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Walsh, Cory (November 20, 2014). "Veteran character actor Mark Metcalf plays Scrooge in UM production". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mark Metcalf". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  7. ↑ Oztaskin, Murat (November 11, 2020). "The Price of Performance, in 'Character'". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Olson, Drew; Tarnoff, Andy (February 22, 2008). "Milwaukee Talks: Actor/restaurateur Mark Metcalf". OnMilwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fredrickson, Erika (November 20, 2014). "What do you want to do with your life?". Missoula Independent. Missoula, Montana. Archived from the original on 2015-03-28. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Horne, Michael (April 5, 2004). "The Roundup: Maestro Orchestrates Divorce". Urban Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Andrews, Tom (October 28, 2011). "'Animal House' Fan Favorite Metcalf Still Crafting Film and Stage Memories". Patch Media. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  12. 1 2 Titus, Christa (October 1, 2016). "7 Significant Moments in Twisted Sister's History". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Barrett, Annie (October 5, 2009). "From Maestro to Mayor: Mark Metcalf on 'Mad Men'". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Willow, Jon Anne (December 1, 2004). "Mark Metcalf is the Accidental Actor". Urban Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  15. ↑ Weather Vane 1964, p. 62. Accessed August 23, 2018.
  16. ↑ Sanders, Steven (2010). Miami Vice. Contemporary approaches to film and television series: TV milestones. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 75. ISBN   9780814335413 . Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  17. ↑ Schuyler, David (December 10, 2000). "Actor buys Kelley's". Milwaukee Business Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Mark Metcalf - Credits". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  19. 1 2 3 "Business Spotlight: Libby Montana Bar & Grill". Mequon-Thiensville Today. Mequon and Thiensville, Wisconsin: The City of Mequon, the Village of Thiensville and the Mequon-Thiensville School District. August 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  20. ↑ Luhrssen, David (October 16, 2019). "Director Tate Bunker Talks About 'The Field'". Shepherd Express. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  21. 1 2 "Brunner-Sung's film "Character" premieres at Sundance". College of Arts and Sciences. Ohio State University. January 23, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  22. ↑ https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/metcalftalks
  23. ↑ https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2011/03/09/fat-tuesday-with-mam-and-the-alzheimers-association-of-wi/
  24. ↑ https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2010/05/25/moving-pictures-i-remember-better-when-i-paint/
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